On April 18, gardeners from across Grant and Adams counties will gather at Big Bend Community College for the WSU Grant-Adams Master Gardener Eco-Gardening Symposium: From Seed to Table, a free, half-day event designed to help backyard growers and small farmers cultivate healthier, more productive gardens.
Hosted by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grant–Adams Counties, the symposium blends research-based education with hands-on experience. From soil health and composting to irrigation efficiency, pollination, and food preservation, the program offers practical solutions for sustainable gardening in the Columbia Basin’s unique climate.
Opening keynote speaker Isaac Lnenicka, a Soap Lake–based farmer and certified arborist, brings firsthand insight into soil health and environmental stressors. Farming intensively on just a quarter acre, Lnenicka will share strategies that help gardeners grow more food with fewer inputs.
The day concludes with Judy Conlow, a Master Gardener and natural storyteller whose presentation, “Lemurs and Wolves,” explores the world of pollination in a way that is informative, entertaining, and sure to spark new appreciation for nature’s partnerships.
In between, attendees can choose from a menu of breakout sessions covering irrigation, composting, pest management, herbs, bees, food preservation, and funding opportunities for small farmers. A lively panel discussion, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Vegetable Gardening”, brings local Master Gardeners together to share candid lessons learned in their veggie gardens.
Vendor Alley will be open throughout the day, offering plant starts, soil testing, composting advice, pollinator resources, a Master Gardener Plant Clinic where gardeners can get expert help tailored to their own challenges.
For many participants, the gathering is as much about community as it is about cultivation. “This symposium creates a space for learning, sharing, and connecting,” organizers say. “Everyone leaves inspired and better equipped to grow food sustainably.”
The Eco-Gardening Symposium takes place April 18 from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the ATEC Building on Big Bend Community College’s campus in Moses Lake. Admission is free, but registration is required.